WASHINGTON — Scammers are using U.S. Capitol police phone numbers in their attempts to get money and sensitive personal information from potential victims.
Investigators are looking into incidents in which scammers have “spoofed” Capitol police numbers on a potential victim’s caller ID to make the targets believe they need to settle a fictitious warrant. These scammers have requested payment in the form of bitcoins, gift cards or wired funds.
This type of scam has also been popular with identity thieves, who pose as a government agency or credit card company to access sensitive information such as Social Security or bank account numbers.
Capitol police assure the public that at no time would any employee “request any form of monetary compensation over the phone to settle a warrant, pay a fine, or resolve any criminal matters.”
Police recommend that you end the call immediately if you’re asked to provide personal information over the phone. If you know the entity that is seeking such information, call it yourself and ask a customer representative if the information is actually being sought.
If you think you received a call with falsified caller ID information, file a complaint with the FCC:
- Online: Web form
- Phone: 888-225-5322; TTY, 888-835-5322
- Mail: Federal Communications Commission, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division, 445 12th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20554
